Then I would probably wait til the taper was finished. I think I posted this on another recent thread(maybe yours?) but C is having one every 3 months last two were 1700, 300 and next is up next week. I think the GI would've opted for every 6 months but agreed to every 3 since he had to be hospitalized in Feb and because it made me more comfortable(you know the whole this crazy lady will be calling every week so let's just give her the test! Ha!)

Does your son's GI have a model he follows or has he left it up for discussion?

About a week drop off is in the am
Lucky DH
Hopefully he asks for a new cup since this one wasn't planned but we like to keep spares at home just in case.
Gi likes to spring the bring in a stool sample ASAP on us .

Spare stool cups under the sink next to the toilet paper? Must be an IBD home We will be having our 2nd one 6th months after the first which was normal, if this one is normal also it will be once a year unless otherwise needed

Thanks for the info. The old GI never did fecal cal, but this new one does. We just haven't had a follow up appt with him since the flare in early May so I'm not sure what kind of schedule he follows yet. I'm just lining up my ducks... and I found an extra sample cup in the cabinet and had an "Oh, yeah" moment. Definitely an IBD house!

I submitted DS's sample on a Friday and we had results the following Wednesday.

When my son had a high fecal cal in August the GI wasn't going to do another for 6 months. When I said I wanted one in 3 months they said fine but made me pay for it out of pocket ($600) and said it wouldn't show much difference because the time frame was too short. (Went from 586 to 430 in 3 months). Now Johnny is sub therapeutic with his meds so GI ordered another fecal cal for 3 months from last one. So apparently 3 months really isn't too short of a time frame. It will usually just indicate the trend though. We knew after 3 months Johnny's was going down but that was really all it told us.

I'm still a bit vague on the Prometheus test but Stephen's GI wants to test remicade level (and I think that includes antibodies??). He wants the test done the same day (before infusion) day or, at most, the day before his next infusion date. This is scheduled for the first 'regular' infusion, ie his three loading doses are done and his first '8 week interval' infusion is June 7 (test being done June 6).

I asked about another fecal cal today at our appt and the GI said he usually only does them when kids are having clinical symptoms. He said we know is level was 1332 last month and if we were to test him again now and it comes back at say 300, even 500, it's not telling us anything we're not already seeing and observing in clinic. Since DS is doing well, feeling well, pooping well, and growing well - what's the point?

Had we come in today after being on pred for a month and DS was still feeling miserable, then he'd consider another fecal cal because then it would provide some relevant info.

I see his point, but it sounds like a lot of your GI's run fecal cal regularly. Should I push for every 6 months?

My son hadnt had one done since he was diagnosed and that was 3 years ago. All his bloods have been good up until the last one which showed the esr marker slightly up but was put sown to him having a sore throat so consultant not worried but has asked us to do a calprotectin test which we have done and handed into our surgery yesterday. x

I asked about another fecal cal today at our appt and the GI said he usually only does them when kids are having clinical symptoms. He said we know is level was 1332 last month and if we were to test him again now and it comes back at say 300, even 500, it's not telling us anything we're not already seeing and observing in clinic. Since DS is doing well, feeling well, pooping well, and growing well - what's the point?

Had we come in today after being on pred for a month and DS was still feeling miserable, then he'd consider another fecal cal because then it would provide some relevant info.

I see his point, but it sounds like a lot of your GI's run fecal cal regularly. Should I push for every 6 months?

I too can see what he is saying but by the same token that could be said of any test.

I have had two very different experiences with my kids and so being one bitten twice shy I always like to have as much information as possible in front of me and whilst ever that information marries up then I am happy, whether it be for better or worse.

Whilst I agree that it is vitally important to physically observe the child in all aspects, that information can only glean so much and until you compare that with clinical information then you are only getting half the story.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon that the outside story does not match the inside one. So yes, I would push for regular testing so you always have the complete picture.